Registering recorder of hot-running axle bearings of railroad cars



M. CERVENKA REGISTERING RECORDER OF HOT-RUNNING AXLE April 23, 1968BEARINGS 0F RAILROAD CARS Filed April 21, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l PzfgvvENToR. 27,70; Zen/60%? BY April 23, 1968 M. CERVENKA 3,380,067

REGISTERING RECORDER OF HOTRUNNING AXLE BEARINGS OF RAILROAD CARS FiledApril 21, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fly. 2

IN VEN TOR.

277/70 3 few men (a April 23, 1968 M. CERVENKA 3,380,067

REGISTERING RECORDER OF HOT-RUNNING AXLE BEARINGS 0F RAILROAD CARS FiledApril 21, 1966 '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 HP L 81 7 JUL.

Flig- 5 V VINVENTOR. 2W/705 KeV'yenKa Mm/w United States Patent3,380,067 REGISTERING RECORDER OF HOT-RUNNING AXLE BEARINGS 0F RAILROADCARS Milos Cerveuka, Pardubice, Czechoslovakia, assignor t0 Tesla,ntirodni podnik, Prague, Czechoslovakia Filed Apr. 21, 1966, Ser. No.544,265 5 Claims. (Cl. 346-33) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Timerarrangement, axle detector, infrared detector and control circuiteleetromechanically control printing by a counter of the time and numberof axle bearings of railway cars moving on a railroad track and eachtime a hot running axle bearing is detected, an alarm is set off. Thecontrol circuit controls the resetting of the counter after completionof a printing operation.

This invention relates to improved electromechanical data selectiverecording devices of plural simultaneously moving objects, particularlya registering recorder of hot running axle bearings of railroad cars.

The devices for selective recording, as known in the prior art,connected by means of a single line with coincidence circuits and datacommunication circuits, are used for detection of hot running axlebearings of railroad cars. These systems permit selective records to bemade, do not allow, however, the permanent records referring todifferent sets of moving objects, e.g., of different trains, to bestarted and differentiated automatically. In addition to that suchdevices have been also known which permit only selective indications,but without any provision of permanent records, to be made in connectionwith relay chains to which indicating lamps are connected. With boththese systems constant attendance is required because the operator has,for example, to register the illuminated indicating lamps, to switchover the recorder, to supplement the effected records by appropriatelydifferentiating indications referring to different sets of trains, andto readjust the recorder for the operation as required during thefollowing work cycle.

The present invention has its object to remove the shortcomings andinadequacies mentioned above which are normally encountered with theprior art systems and devices.

The primary object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide animproved electromechanical registering recorder for selective datarecording of plural simultaneously moving objects, particularly aregistering recorder for detecting and recording hot running axlebearings of railroad cars, comprising heat-responsive elements, e.g.,infrared detectors, with associated amplifiers to which via gatingcircuits is connected a record printer of multiple inputs and fittedwith recording counter elements behind the operating members thereof isconnected an electromechanical device for advancing a recording tapewhile to the track to be monitored, e.g., a railroad track, is arrangeda passage pickup of all moving objects, e.g., a magnetic pickup, towhich is connected a logic circuit wherein to the output of said logiccircuit is connected an electromechanical device fitted with anoperating member facing said recording tape as well as the identityrecording elements which are coupled to the operating member of anotherelectromechanical device which is connected to the output of an identitypulse generating device while to the output of said logic circuit isconnected an auxiliary power supply unit which is associated with theinput of a movement for the recording counter elements via two contactpairs, connected in series, whereice of one contact pair: the breakcontacts arranged in the vicinity of one recording counter element areengaged by a contact breaking means attached at least to one of saidrecording counter elements when the same is adjusted to the clearedposition while said electromechanical device used for advancing therecording tape is in association with the output of said logic circuit.

By means of the devices according to the present invention it ispossible to make permanent records completely automatically for a periodof several tens of work cycles, which is limited only by the supply ofspare recording tape, and the operator can attend only to the evaluationof the records without being obliged to adjust the recorder for thedifferent operations. If special arrangements are made, the recorder canwork independently even for a long period of several hours and itautomatically actuates an alarm device only in those cases if, with theevaluated objects, detrimental conditions have been detected, e.g., hotrunning wheel axle bearings.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent as description proceeds, and the features of novelty will bepointed out in the ap ended claims.

Prior to describing the present invention in detail, certain terms ofcircuitry, which are relevant to the correct understanding of theoperation of the devices according to the present invention will beexplained below.

In the diagrams of the accompanying drawings exclusively electromagneticrelay circuits are indicated Whose sequence of operation in principle isthe same as that of the logic circuits which have been described inRichards, R. K.: Arithmetic Operations in Digital Computers, D. vanNostrand, 1955. These circuits can be, therefore, replaced at theirinput stages by appropriate equivalents, e.g., diodes as described inthe cited book.

A logic circuit with two AND/NOT outputs, as used in the railroad safetysystems has been described in this book under the heading: AND/NOTCircuits. As described in said book, an AND/NOT circuit may comprise atime delay relay preset to a selected idle period. When the first pulseis supplied to the relay, said relay is energized. The relay thenremains energized for a determined period such as, for example, 5seconds. If, during the 5-second period, a second pulse is supplied tothe relay, said relay remains energized for an additional 5 seconds, andso on. If, during the 5 second period, no additional pulse is suppliedto the relay, the relay energizing circuit is opened, the relay isdeenergized, and the voltage drop is utilized as a switching pulse forfollowing circuitry to said relay energizing circuit. From the operatingpoint of view, this logic circuit, at the arrival of the first wheelaxle of the car which has to be evaluated, opens the shutter of aninfrared detector and at the end of the passage of the train, i.e., ifno further impulses are set up in the course of several seconds, closesthis shutter again. The first operation corresponds with the AND or ONstate while the other relates to the NOT or OFF state. In addition tothe opening or closing of the detector shutters, the logic circuits canalso be used for other operations required by the devices according tothe present invention as will be described below. The logic circuit canbe controlled either by an ordinary magnetic or mechanical pickuplocated under the rail. The operation of the logic circuit can be,however, independent from the actuation of the infrared detector shutteror, in addition to this operation, it can be also so designed as toperform other switching operations which are required by the devicesaccording to the present invention. This circuit can be realized as atime responsive relay. These prior art features do not constitute theobjects of the invention but are considered as generally known circuitswhich are required for the novel operation of the registering recorder.

The relay circuits are described below are designed as logic circuitsaccording to the cited work by Richards. Every relay circuit is providedwith one or several inputs. An example for an input circuit is the relaywinding or coil. These circuits further comprises one or several outputcircuits which set up the output impulses in dependence on the state ofthe input circuit. In addition to that they are formed by operatingmembers (armatures) which in the description of the embodiment areelectromagnetically controlled again in dependence on the state of theinput circuit. In principle these operating members can be designed asmechanical means which are connected with the input circuits so thatwhen the operating member is actuated, i.e., when a pawl lever engages aratchet wheel, a contact is simultaneously made in the output circuit sothat due to that the power source is connected to another input circuitof a further logic circuit. These operations can be, however,ditierentiated and voltage can be also applied reversely as it iscustomary to do in this technique. A special example of the operatingmember is the contact surface for the contacts, in short called onlycontact in the following.

In order that the present invention may be readily carried into effect,it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic and block diagram of an embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention for selectively detecting andrecording hot running axle bearings of railway cars moving on a railroadtrack;

FIG. 2 is a schematic and block diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 1including additional components and additional details of some of thecomponents of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of an alarm signal circuitwhich may be utilized with the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a view, partly in section, of part of the counter of FIGS. 1and 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a segment of printed tape provided bythe apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the make and break devices of thecontrol circuit of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The registering recorder comprises heat responsive elements such as, forexample, infrared detectors which include gating amplifiers P21 and Pz2.One of the infrared detectors is aifixed to the left-hand rail of therailroad track at right angles to said rail. The other of the infrareddetectors is atfixed to the right-hand rail of the railroad track atright angles to said rail. The infrared detectors, including theiramplifiers set up impulses Vppl and Vpp2 which are passed to theregistering printer proper. In association with the detectors andamplifiers there are also provided the known diiferentiating circuitsHz, e.g., a coincidence amplifier.

The gating circuits can be designed in accordance with the principles asdescribed in Chance et al.: Waveforms, edited in Massachusetts Instituteof Technology Radiation Laboratory Series, volume 19, by McGraw-HillBook (30., New York-London, 1947. The gating circuit is provided withtwo inputs: the enabling one and the gate proper, and one single outputat which an impulse can appear only if input impulses are applied to thetwo inputs. The signals are also differentiated according to theirrespective amplitudes so that an impulse set up by the detector which isactuated by a non-hot running axle hearing, being of a smalleramplitude, cannot pass while that actuated by a hot running bearing,being of a higher amplitude, passes through the gate and is further usedfor cnergization of the relay circuits.

The coincidence gating amplifier Hz is also connected to the passagepickup MS for counting all objects to be evaluated and which can be amagnetic pickup used for the counting of wheel axles of railroad cars.In association with the passage pickup there is further the logiccircuit V0 of the known AND/NOT type, which at the first impulse set upby the passage pickup MS switches on the registering recorder and keepsit in operation in the course of the total period of the train passageor of another moving object to be evaluated. If, however, the series ofimpulses set up by the passage pickup MS is in terrupted for a presetperiod of time, then the logic circuit V0 differentiates that no furtheroperation is required any more and sends out an impulse to close theshutter of the heat-responsive element which is also well known. Thefirst impulse, i.e., the opening impulse is passed to the winding of theelectromagnetic relay 02, see FIG. 1, while the other impulse, theso-called closing impulse, is passed to the winding of the relay 08, seeFIG. 2. This may be effected by suitably differentiating the impulses,for example, by changing their polarity. In the vicinity of the core ofthe electromagnetic relay 02 there is provided a mechanical operatingmember 02T, which, when current passes through the winding of theelectromagnetic relay 02, is attracted to the core and due to that itsother end, fitted with a block bears against two identity recordingelements ltlZH and 102M. These elements are fitted with types of numberscast in reverse indicating minutes and hours respectively. Theserecording elements are coupled to the ratchet wheel 101H which in turnis engaged by the operating member 01T. From the clock H, which isprovided, minute impulses are passed through two make contacts to thewinding of another electromagnetic relay 01 which attracts the operatingmember GIT mentioned above. By this arrangement, interruptedidentification signals are sent out at every minute due to which therecording elements 101H and 102M are rotated so that the indication ofhours and minutes is printed. This arrangement can be, however, changedby replacing the clock H by a special switching sequence counterindicating the number of switching operations of the logic circuit V0 sothat the identification signal may correspond with the serial number ofthe passing train.

Further the registering recorder is provided with recording counterelements 301, 302 and 303 which on their surfaces are fitted withreversed numbers from (Ito 9 arranged in carry system permittingnumerical integration. These recording counter elements are arranged onthe shaft 300 which is fitted with the ratchet wheel 308 which isengaged by the operating member 031 attracted by the core of theelectromagnetic relay 03 whose winding is connected to the output of thecoincidence gating amplifier Hz.

The outputs of the heat-responsive detectors with their amplifiers Pzl,PzZ which set up the impulses Vppl and Vpp 2, and the output of thegating amplifier Hz are connected to the inputs of the electromagneticrelays 04 and 05 which, with respect to the former circuits, areconnected as logic AND circuits so that they are operated only if therequired states are met, i.e., it signals of sufficient applitude areprovided. These relays 64 and 05 are also provided with operatingmembers MT and 05T respectively which in turn are fitted with blocks attheir distal ends. These blocks are fitted with reversed types L and Rfor the indication of the left-hand and the right-hand rails. Therecording paper tape P moves along these blocks fitted with reversedtypes. The electromagnetic relays 04 and 05 are also associated with theoutput circuits to which are connected the make contacts 04K and 05Kwhen inoperative. These contacts are connected both to the positiveterminal of the supply source 04+ and to the output of the winding ofthe electromagnetic relay 06 which is connected as an OR circuit. Thiscircuit together with the relay 06 is provided with the operatingmem-ber 6'6T fitted with a block at its distal end, directed towards therecording paper tape P, bearing against the recording counter elements301, 302 and 503 when the relay 06 is energized. The output circuit isprovided with the contacts 06K which when inoperative are in theiroff-position and of which one is connected via the junction point 06K1to the winding of the electromagnetic relay 07 whose other terminal isconnected to the negative terminal of the power supply source 06K5, seeFIG. 2. The other of these contacts is connected via the junction point06K2 to the parallel connected electric lamp Z1 and the horn R1 whosecommon junction point is connected to the other negative terminal of thepower supply source, as shown in FIG. 3. Both these units Z1 and R 1 canbe supplemented by a seal-in-relay, not indicated in the diagram, whichis used for constant operation. The electromagnetic relay 07 is providedwith the operating member 07T which engages the ratchet wheel of thecylinder 07F pressing the recording paper tape P against a support whichis not indicated in the diagram. The recording paper tape P passesbetween the blocks fitted with reversed types L an d R and the recordingcounter elements 301, 302 and 303, located on one side, and theoperating members 04T, 05T, and 06T on the other side, and along theidentity recording elements 102M and 102H, see FIG. 1. Between therecording paper tape P and the recording counter elements is inserted aprinting ribbon T which moves at right angles to the axis of therecording paper tape P, see FIG. 2, and is arranged as an endless loop.The printing ribbon T, as seen in FIG. 2, moves along four guide rollersof which three, as indicated in the diagram, are not fitted withreference numbers, while the fourth roller is marked with the referencenumber 105 and is rotated by the electromotor 104 which can be, e.g., astepper motor.

This electromotor 104 is fed from an electric source but to the supplycircuit there are connected the contacts 00K2 and 08K3 which wheninoperative are in the offposition and are located near the core of theelectromagnetic relay 08 which is connected via the junction points V01and V02 to the output of the logic circuit V0, see FIG. 1. The relay 08is a seal-in type, and a long series of seal-in relays are well known inthe art. In this embodiment one circuit of such a relay will bedescribed with which to one terminal of the relay 08, in addition to thelogic circuit V, an auxiliary electric power source is connected only byits positive terminal, as indicated by the plus sign, near the junctionpoint V02, see FIG. 2. The relay 08 is provided with at least fourcontacts, the two contact pairs being in mutual co-operation with eachother. One pair of make contacts, as mentioned above, marked 081(2 and08K3, are used to apply the required voltage to the stepper motor 104.One contact of the other contact .pair, i.e., the contact 08K'1 isconnected to that terminal V01 of the relay 08 which is not connected tojunction point V02+ of the positive terminal. And with this contact00K1, when inoperative, cooperates the contact 08K4 which is in theoff-position. The contact 08K4 is connected to the contact pair which isarranged in the vicinity of one recording counter element 301. Toprevent the overcrowding of the diagram in FIG. 2, only the contact1001M of this contact pair is indicated with the reference number. Thecontact 1081(4 as well as the contact OSKIB of this contact pair areshown in detail in FIG. 6. These break contacts 08K1-B and 108144 areconnected via the input circuit of the pulse generator 09, see FIG. 2,to the negative terminal of the power source so that in this way boththese contacts are connected in series to this circuit. As shown in FIG.6, these two break contacts when inoperative are connected with eachother. A contact breaking lug 311, arranged on the proximal recordingcounter element 301, engages these break contacts when the recordingcounter element 301 is adjusted to its cleared (zero) position.

The output of the pulse generator 09, e.g., the contacts of a pulsatingrelay set into the auxiliary power supplies, is connected in parallel tothe winding of the electromagnetic relay 07. The output of the pulsegenerator 09 is also connected to the electromechanical device 103,i.e., a stepper motor which is coupled to the clearing shaft 300A whichis pivoted in the hubs of the recording counter elements 301, 302, and303. This clearing shaft is not identical with the driving shaft 300,see FIGS. 1 and 2, as will be described below.

The diagram in FIG. 4 serves for a better understanding of the wellknown clearing arrangement of the recording counter elements. Theserecording counter elements are rotated by means of the electromagneticrelay 0-3 and its operating member 03T in connection with the ratchetwheel 308 mounted to the driving shaft 300 after receiving a pulse setup by the passage pickup MS counting every moving object to be evaluatedafter, for example, a wheel axle of the railroad car travels along thecounting point. After finishing the counting, the recording counterelements indicate the highest number of the counted objects, for example122. This number has to be cleared and the recording counter elementshave to be reset to zero again. If they were actuated by their owndriving means, 878 impulses would be necessary to be set up and passedto the three recording counter elements 301, 302, and 303 in the decadesystem in order to reset them to zero again. The long-time Zero settingcan be, however, prevented by the short-time clearing by means of thewell known device, modified for the purposes of this registeringrecorder and depicted in the diagram of FIG. 4, as follows: Therecording counter elements 301, 302, and 303 are provided with hubs inwhich a longitudinal slot 30C with a chamfered edge is arranged. Intothese hubs of the elements 301, 302, and 303 is inserted, by passingthrough these members from their distal side and in the oppositedirection to the driving shaft 300, the singlesided clearing shaft 300Awhich is coupled to the electromechanical driving means, e.g., thestepper motor 103, FIG. 2. For all the recording counter elements 301,302, and 303, radial holes are bored in the clearing shaft 300A in whicha spring 30B and a pin 30A are provided. The proximal recording counterelement 301, see FIG. 2, is fitted with two lugs 310 and 311, of whichthe latter marked 311 engages the break contacts 108-K4 and 08K1B, seeFIG. 6, as mentioned above, to disconnect the break contacts. Thiscontact breaking lug 311, with respect to the break contacts 1031(4 and08K1B and the position of the zero digit, is so arranged that it mayengage these break contacts at that time when the recording counterelement 301 finishes its step-by-step movement and the zero (0) digit isadjusted to the recording paper tape P. In the vicinity of the proximalrecording counter element 301 is also provided a pair of make contacts108K2 and 08K1A, see FiGS. 2 and 6, of which the contact K2 is connectedin series by one lead of the pulse generator 09 to the electromagneticrelay 07 while the other contact 08K1A is directly connected to thesecond terminal of the relay 07. Both these make contacts 108K2 and08K1A, when inoperative are in the off-position. The other lug 310 ofthe recording counter element 301, the so-called contact making lug,engages the make contacts 108K2 and 08-K1A only along a defined sectionof the periphery of the element 301 during its rotation.

The operation of the registering recorder is as follows:

The registering recorder is put into operation by switching on theappropriate power supply units. At 14 hours 05 minutes the first trainhas passed along the heat-responsive detectors. Up to this time theclock H has performed only timing operation and has actuated therecording elements 102M and 1021-1 indicating minutes and hoursrespectively. At the arrival of the first wheel axle of the railroadcar, the passage pickup MS sets up the first impulse and simultaneouslyboth the heat-responsive detectors with their amplifiers P21 and Pz2 areactuated and the logic circuit V0, see FIG. 1, passes the first impulse,relevant to the travelling train, to the winding of the electromagneticrelay 02. The operating member MT is attracted by the core of the relay02 and the indication of time 14 05 is printed by the recording elements102 M and 102H. A specimen record is depicted in FIG. 5. Simultaneouslythe other circuits, i.e., the coincidence gating amplifier Hz and theheat-responsive detectors together with their amplifiers P11 and PZZeffect the gating of the output impulses Vppl and VppZ and due to theimpulses passed to the winding of the electromagnetic relay 03, theoperating member 03T is alternatively attracted actuating by means ofthe ratchet wheel 308 and the driving shaft 300 the units, tens, and/orhundreds recording elements 301, 302, and 303. Because no hot runningaxle bearings have been detected in the passing train, after the passageof the train only the record 14 05 has been printed on the recordingpaper tape P and the recording counter elements have counted the totalnumber of Wheel axles without printing them. If it is required forchecking purposes, this total number can be also printed on therecording paper tape P. After the passage of the train, the passagepickup MS stops setting up impulses and the logic circuit V0 determinesthat the passage of the train has been finished and sets up anotherimpulse, the so-called closing impulse passing it to the winding of theelectromagnetic relay 08, see FIG. 2. In the railroad safety systemsthese two impulses are also called AND and NOT impulses. By the NOT orclosing impulse, the contact 08K4 is attracted for a moment to thecontact 081(1, see FIG. 2. Simultaneously the contact 081(2 is attractedto the contact 08K3. Because, however, one terminal of the winding ofthe electromagnetic relay 08 is connected to the positive terminalmarked V02+, while the other terminal is connected to the contact 081(1,and the contacts 08K1B and 108-K4, when inoperative, are in theon-position, even after the NOT impulse has been terminated by the logiccircuit V0, the winding of the relay 08 remains permanently connected tothe circuit formed by the positive terminal of the power supply source,the electromagnetic relay 08, the contacts 08K1, 08K4, 08K1B, and 108K4,the input of the pulse generator 09, and the negative terminal of thepower supply source, because due to this design the sealing-in operationof this relay is ensured. The pulse generator 09 is formed, e.g., by apulsating relay which is the generator proper of electric impulses. Thepulse generator 09 now starts to set up impulses which are passed by theleads via the junction points 09A and 093 to the electromechanicalclearing device (used for zero setting), i.e., to the stepper motor 103while during the passage of the train the clearing shaft 300A hasremained stationary and the recording counter elements 301, 302 and 303have been rotated by means of the driving shaft 300 turning them in sucha direction that the pin 30A, due to the chamfered edge of the slot 300,is caused to be slowly pressed inside the radial hole of the clearingshaft 300A. When, however, the clearing shaft 300A is rotated in thesame direction as has been rotated the driving shaft 300-, the pin 30Adue to the pressure exerted by the spring 30B, is pushed out by movingalong the chamfered edge of the slot 300 and engages its flat wall.

In consequence of that the pin 30A starts successively to carry alongall the recording counter elements 301, 302, 303, in spite of theirbeing adjusted to any position at the end of the passage of the train,so that their zero digits of these elements are all aligned in theirturn. Because the contact breaking lug 311, arranged on the proximalrecording counter element 301, as mentioned above, see FIG. 6, is sodesigned as to engage the break contacts 08K1B and 1081(4 in order tobring them to the off-position, when the proximal recording counterelement 301 is turned with its zero digit to face the recording papertape P, the pulse generator 09 passes impulses to the clearingelectromechanical device 103 so long till all the zero digits of therecording counter elements are so adjusted as to face the recordingpaper tape P. At this moment immediately prior to the end of the lastimpulse, the contact breaking lug 311 engages the break contacts 08K1Band 108144 and disconnects the same. Due to that the total circuit ofthe winding of the relay 00 is interrupted, the contacts 08K1 and 08K4are brought to the off-position, and the power supply source isdisconnected 8 from the pulse generator 09. Because the circuit has beeninterrupted, the clearing electromechanical device 103 is also switchedotf. Thus the recording counter elements have been reset to zero.

It has to be noted that although the engagement of the break contacts108K4 and 08K1B by the contact breaking lug 311 is effected at the zeroposition of the recording counter elements 301, 302, and 303, the lug311 arranged on the recording counter element 301, due to the momentum,slightly overpasses the last step-by-step movement of the recordingelements 301, 302, 303 which causes the release of the otT-position ofthe break contacts 108K4 an 08K1B so that the registering recorder isagain ready for operation at the arrival of another train. Thus theclearing (zero setting) could have been effected only by a few or tensof impulses without being obliged to make transfers to the next decimalorder.

During the total period of operation of the pulse generator 09, tthecontacts 08K2 and 08KB; of the relay 08 have been adjusted to theon-position. Because the contact 08K2 is connected to the positiveterminal of another power supply source and the contact 08K?) isconnected to one terminal of the electromotor 104 Whose other terminalis connected to the negative terminal of the supply source, during thetotal period when the contacts 08K1 and 0010! have been kept in theon-position, the electromotor 104 has rotated and by means of the guideroller 105 has carried along the printing ribbon T so that the sectionagainst which the records have been printed on the recording paper tapeP has been exchanged. During the rotation of the proximal recordingcounter element 301, which is fitted with the lugs 310 and 311, thecontact making lug 310 engages the make contacts 108K2 and 08K1A whenthe elements 301 is not adjusted to its zero position. This contactmaking lug 310 is so arranged as to be in operation for a period, e.g.,of 4 impulses. Because the make contacts 1081(2 and 08K1A are connectedin series with the auxiliary lead of the pulse generator 09 connected tothe electromagnetic relay 07, the four impulses have been passed to theWinding of the electromagnetic relay 07 causing the four attractions ofthe operating member 071 to be made resulting in the engagement of theratchet wheel associated with the cylinder 07P so that the recordingpaper tape P has been advanced at least by 4 steps. The differentrecords are, therefore, appropriately spaced from One another on therecording paper tape P so that they are well arranged and visible by theoperator, because a portion of the recording paper tape P is alwayscovered by the recording counter elements.

When summing up it is possible to state that at the end of thisprocedure the registering recorder is again in the stand-by position andprepared for further operation, the recording counter elements are setto zero, the recording paper tape P has been advanced 'by several stepswhich is advantageous, and the printing ribbon has been also advanced byan appropriate section against which the different records have beenprinted. At 14 hours 08 minutes another train travels along the countingpoint. No hot-running axle bearings are detected and, therefore, thetotal procedure as mentioned above is repeated. The registering recorderis automatically reset to zero and also adjusted to the stand-byposition in the same manner as has been described with the train at 1405.

At 14 hours 12 minutes a further train passes and actuates theregistering recorder to print the appropriate records of time on therecording paper tape P but its 17th right-hand and the 81st left-handaxle bearings have been detected as hot-running. In this case theprocedure is as follows: first of all the heat-responsive detectors Withthe amplifiers Pzl and P22 and in connection with the coincidence gatingamplifier Hz have detected the 17th righthand hot-running axle bearing.Up to that time the wheel axle bearings of the railroad car have beenonly counted by the recording counter elements 301, 302, and 303. At thepassage of the 17th wheel axle and the AND circuit 9 04 and/or 05 hasevaluated an undesired state and the relay 04 or 05, after beingenergized, has attracted the operating member 04T and/or STrespectively, as the case may be, to indicate either the right-hand orthe lefthand axle, because the heat-responsive detectors with theiramplifiers Pzl and P22 are mounted to both rails. The block fixed to thedistal end of the appropriate operating member has been pressed againstthe plate with reversed letter R and due to that simultaneously thecontacts K or 04K have been made so that voltage has been applied to thewinding of the electromagnetic relay 06 whose operating member 06T afterbeing attracted prints the member 17, and by closing the contacts 06K,voltage is applied to the winding of the electromagnetic relay 07, theoperating member 07T is attracted, and the recording paper tape P isadvanced by one step under the cylinder 07P. Simultaneously an impulsehas been passed through the junction point 06K2, see FIGS. 1 and 3, tothe indicating lamp X1 and the horn R1. This circuit can also include aseal-in relay, which is not indicated in this diagram so that theindicating lamp as Well as the horn are kept constantly in operation,i.e., the lamp is constantly illuminated and the horn constantlysounded. The operation of these alarm devices is kept on so lOng tillthe operator, after being summoned by this alarm, switches off thesedevices. But even without this intervention of the operator, theoperation of the registering recorder is fully automatic. At the passageof the 81st Wheel axle, the record L81 is printed on the recording papertape P indicating that the 81st lefthand axle bearing is hot running,the recording paper tape P is advanced by one step, and all remainingWheel axles are counted by the recording counter elements Without being,however, printed. At the end of the train passage, the procedure isrepeated as has been described above with the train at 14 05, i.e., thezero setting and advancement of the recording paper tape P and of theprinting ribbon T. The specimen recording, see FIG. 5, includes recordsmade within the period of from 14 05 to 14 43 hours. As it is apparentfrom the description, the operation of the registering recorder is fullyautomatic. With the train at 14 31 hours both the right-hand and theleft-hand hot running axle bearings of the 16th wheel axle have beendetected and duly recorded as is shown in FIG. 5. The optical andacoustic alarm indicating devices have been kept on indicating thedetected unwanted state which can last during the total period asmentioned above and cannot be stopped Without these alarm devices beingswitched oif by the operator.

In the description above all relevant auxiliary units and elements havebeen omitted, e.g., amplifiers, transfer circuits, and mechanical gears.According to the selected component parts it will become necessary thatbetween two indicated circuits an amplifying circuit has to be arranged.This appears to become necessary especially with the timing clock Hbecause pulse current of several amperes which are required for thefeeding of further driving means could not be suitably switched and/offby the sensitive contacts. Similarly between the clearing device and therecording counter element proper, a gearing can be arranged so thataccess to the different units and assemblies during possiblemodifications or repairs is facilitated. In this case the engagement ofthe contact making and the contact breaking lugs can be directlydetermined from the rotation of the clearing shaft or its stepper motor.Such modifications are, however, only adaptations according to theselected components with respect to the permissible operating conditionsof the component parts. In the same manner the pulse energization of theelectromagnetic relay 07 used for advancing the recording counter tape Pcan be determined according to the operation of the operating member 02Tof the electromagnetic relay 02 so that in that case, if the timerecording is printed at the end of the passage of the train so that in-10 tcrvals of the AND/NOT opening and closing impulses would immediatelyfollow one after the other.

For other working conditions, on the contrary, it is suitable to arrangethe relay operating members (armatures) in such a manner that themovement of the recording counter elements 301, 302, and 303, 102M, and102H, and of the ratchet wheels 308 and NIH is efilected by the force ofsprings exerted against the attractive force of the relay magnets. Inthis case the counting of the Wheel axles is started at the stageindicated by the number 001 because the impulse causes the release ofthe operating member from the ratchet Wheel and the end of the impulsecauses new attraction of the operating member, thus resulting in theadvancement by one step. Thus the clearing (zero setting) depends on theagreed digit coding so that the clearing operation cannot be consideredas a simple zero setting.

The registering recorder according to the present invention can bemodified as required, The embodiment described above seems, however, tobe the most suitable from the point of recording of different train setsof railroad cars but to meet different real requirements it can be alsomodified while constantly maintaining the advantage of automaticoperation. No attending personnel is required with the registeringrecorder as it can be kept in operation for hours, constantly effectingappropriate records, and in connection with the optical and acousticalarm signalling devices, it calls the operator only at emergency cases.The registering recorder according to the present invention can beutilized especially by the manufacturers of railroad safety systems.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for selectively detecting and recording hot running axlebearings of railway cars moving on a railroad track, comprising axledetecting means in operative proximity with the railroad track fordetecting each axle, said axle detecting means having an outputproducing an electrical signal upon detection of an axle; infrareddetecting means in operative proximity with the railroad track fordetecting each hot running axle bearing of each wheel on each rail ofsaid track, said infrared detecting means including amplifying means andan output producing an electrical signal upon detection of a hot runningaxle bearing; gating means having outputs and inputs connected to saiddetecting means for distinguishing the signals from said axle andinfrared detecting means;

counting means coupled to the output of said axle detecting means forcounting each passing axle, said counting means comprising a pluralityof rotatable counter wheels and energizing means electrically connectedto said axle detecting means and coupled to said counter wheels forrotating said counter wheels incrementally in accordance with thesignals produced by said axle detecting means, each of said counterWheels having numbers suitable for imprinting on its peripheral surface;

first, second and third printing means in operative proximity with thecounter wheels of said counting means;

first actuating means electrically connected to the outputs of saidgating means and in operative proximity with said first printing meansfor moving said first printing means against said counter Wheels;

second actuating means electrically connected to the outputs of saidgating means and in operative proximity with said second printing meansfor moving said second printing means against said counter wheels;

third actuating means electrically connected to the outputs of saidgating means and in operative proximity with said third printing meansfor moving said third printing means against said counter wheels;

timer means comprising a source of time signals, a

plurality of rotatable time Wheels and energizing means electricallyconnected to said source of time signals and coupled to said time Wheelsfor rotating said time wheels incrementally in accordance with thesignals produced by said source of time signals, each of said timewheels having numbers suitable for imprinting on its peripheral surface;

fourth printing means in operative proximity With the time Wheels ofsaid timer means;

time switching circuit means having an output and an input connected tothe output of said axle detecting means;

fourth actuating means electrically connected to the output of said timeswitching circuit means and in operative proximity with said fourthprinting means for moving said fourth printing means against said timewheels;

reset means for rotata'bly resetting the counter Wheels of said countingmeans, said reset means having an input and being positioned inoperative proximity with said counter wheels;

control circuit means having an input connected to the output of saidtime switching circuit means, said control circuit means comprisingpower supply means for providing electrical energy, make means connectedto said power supply means and break means afiixed to one of the counterwheels of said counting means for opening said control circuit means inthe zero position of said one of said counter wheels relative to saidfirst printing means, said power supply means being connected to theinput of said reset means via the make means of said control circuit;

recording tape movably mounted for incremental movement between each ofthe counter wheels of said counting means and said first, second andthird printing means and between each of the time wheels of said timermeans and said fourth printing means; and tape driving means coupled tosaid recording tape for incrementally moving said tape between saidcounter and time wheels and said first, second and third and fourthprinting means, said tape driving means being in operative proximitywith said first printing means and said fourth printing means and beingcontrolled in operation by said first and fourth printing means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising circuit meansconnecting said control circuit means to said tape driving means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising alarm signalmeans connected to said second and third printing means for signallingthe presence of a hot running axle bearing.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the break means of saidcontrol circuit means comprises a break projection afiixed to andextending from said one of said counter wheels of said counting means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an inked ribboninterposed between the peripheral surface of each of the counter wheelsof said counting means and said recording tape and ribbon driving meanscoupled to said ribbon for moving said ribbon between said counterwheels and said recording tape.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,251,190 12/1917 Dixon 3462,333,783 11/1943 Harrington 34659 3,177,359 4/1965 Bramer et al 246169RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

J. W. HARTARY, Assistant Examiner.

